A320 Software Glitch Forces Airlines to Ground Thousands of Planes

The Airbus A320 aircraft family faces significant disruptions due to a software issue linked to solar radiation exposure. This problem affects around 6,000 of the 11,000 A320 planes globally, prompting urgent software updates.

Following a JetBlue incident that necessitated an emergency landing, airlines like Avianca have halted ticket sales for flights until early December, as 70% of their fleet is impacted. Other carriers, including Air France and Lufthansa, are also experiencing cancellations and delays.

While some airlines, like Easyjet, have completed the necessary updates and expect to return to normal operations soon, others are still managing the fallout. In Colombia, Aerocivil has grounded all affected aircraft, leading to widespread cancellations and rescheduling efforts across multiple airlines.

Despite the challenges, some airlines report minimal disruptions, with operations continuing as planned where updates have been implemented.